For our May CBNN Reads, CBNN’s Blogger Extraordinaire Isobel Dixon has chosen Monkeypig by Huw Aaron. Published by Puffin. Link in bio for full review 📚 @puffinbooksuk.bsky.social @huwaaron.bsky.social

🎉 New members announcement 🎉 We are delighted to welcome four new members to CBNN. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to: Annie Booker, Genevieve Carver, Janet Aspey, and Katja Kaine. We are so excited to have you all on board 📚

In this Northern Highlight, we interview Steph Bellwood, an author based in Gosforth, Newcastle. Steph tells us a bit about how she’s recently finished writing the third instalment of her four-book series. These books follow the adventures of an intrepid group of female motorcycle-riding Wrens 📚

Today the CBNN Prize judges Lydia Monks, Dapo Adeola, Emma Layfield and Ness Wood gathered at Waterstones Manchester to select the shortlist! It was such a tough decision as so many great entries from unpublished picture book illustrators across the North. Shortlist to be announced early June! 🏆

In this Northern Highlight, we interview Shauna Darling Robertson, an author based in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Shauna tells us a bit about how she’s currently working with poet Stephen Lightbown on editing his second poetry collection for children. Link in bio 📚

Applications for the CBNN Mentor Scheme close today at 11:59pm! If you're based in the North or Scotland, don't miss your chance to apply. Use the link in our bio to complete the application form, good luck!

Looking for more specific publishing career advice? Apply to the Children's Books North Mentor Scheme before Friday 1 May 2026! All CBNN mentees will be connected with a publishing professional to learn more about the industry and how they can land a new role. Apply using the link in our bio!

In this Northern Highlight, we interview Kelly Zou, a visual artist and illustrator based in Edinburgh. Kelly tells us a bit about her most recent project, Maeve’s First Science Experiment. Link in bio 📚

Meet the Mentors! After working as Desk Editor and then Managing Editor on HCG’s Wren & Rook non-fiction team, Victoria is now Editorial Operations Manager for picture books and non-fiction. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Based in Manchester, Louise is the Key Account Manager and Northern Rep at Bounce Sales and Marketing. Before this she spent a decade as a bookseller. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Hazel oversees design, editing and production with a freelance team, sets the company’s commercial and editorial direction, manages student Major Projects, and coordinates The Northern YA Literary Festival. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Dylan is the former founder-director of Pop Up Projects CIC. He also produced and directed Pathways Into Children's Publishing. He’s currently a part time lecturer on the MA Publishing course at MMU. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Debbie started her career as the Children's Book Buyer at Waterstones Head Office. Now the Programme Leader for Publishing at MMU, she set up the first publishing course in the North of England alongside a publishing house. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Jess started her career in the book publishing industry. After ten years she followed her ambitions to become an illustration agent for children’s books, which then led to setting up Inkling in 2021 with Fiona Kenny. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Emma Layfield is a children’s literary and illustration agent with 25 years of children’s publishing experience. In 2024, Emma launched Children’s Books North Agency to represent Northern and Scottish writers and illustrators. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Sarah Andrews has over 20 years’ experience designing children’s books. After her most recent role as Senior Designer at Hachette Children’s Books, Sarah now works freelance and is based in York. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Robyn is a freelance designer and illustrator based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She has a background in children’s book design and has worked with many UK publishers on a variety of novelty, non-fiction and picture book projects. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Holly is a designer with almost 20 years of in-house experience, creating bestselling book covers for a range of publishers. In 2024 she was shortlisted for the British Book Awards Designer of the Year and is now freelance. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Janet is a highly experienced, award-winning marketer, most recently Senior Brand Manager at Hodder and Stoughton. Having relocated back to the North of England she now manages marketing and publicity campaigns for Fox and Ink Books. Apply using the link in bio!

Meet the Mentors! Charlotte spent over seven years as a copywriter and editor. She’s been published across some of the UK’s biggest magazines and in two children’s anthologies. She now leads events at Simply Books, an indie bookshop in South Manchester. Link in bio to apply!

Meet the Mentors! Bea is an award-winning freelance Publicist. She is co-lead of the Children’s Books North Network and is based in Stockport. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio!

Meet the Mentors! Tilda edits all ages and genres of children's and YA fiction, from the early stages of developing a story to polishing a manuscript for submission or publication. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Lucy is a commissioning editor of illustrated non-fiction, with experience in picture books too. She grew up in Scarborough and Teesside and now lives in Sheffield. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Karyn is senior editor at Floris Books in Edinburgh, working on beautiful and inspiring board books, picture books, middle grade novels, storybook anthologies and illustrated non-fiction for children in Scotland and beyond. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Grace is Senior Commissioning Editor for Orchard Books, part of Hachette Children’s Books, working from their Edinburgh office. She commissions non-fiction for age 0–7, and loves every minute of it! Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! Georgina worked at Waterstones for five years, both in-store and in head office, before joining Hachette Children's Group in 2021. She has published a variety of middle-grade and young adult fiction. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio.

Meet the Mentors! After eight years as an in-house editor, Corinne swapped London’s tube for Scotland’s hills. Specialising in children’s non-fiction, she works as a freelance editor for major publishing houses, including Puffin, Hachette and Quarto. Apply for our mentor scheme using the link in bio

Looking for a job in publishing? The CBNN Mentor Scheme pairs publishing hopefuls based in the North & Scotland with mentors in all of these areas. Find out more about the CBNN Mentor Scheme and how to apply using the link in our bio! Applications close on Friday 1st May.

Applications for the 2026 Mentor Scheme are now open! Each year the CBNN mentor scheme offers places to aspiring publishing professionals living in the North of England and Scotland. As part of the scheme, mentees will receive 1:1 mentoring with a publishing professional over four months 📚

In this Northern Highlight, we interview Alan Dapre, an author based in North Ayrshire, in the south-west of Scotland. Alan tells us a bit about his picture book, My dog Max, illustrated by Alex Ayliffe. Link in bio 📚 @alandapre.bsky.social

Have you ever dreamed of working in children’s publishing? If so, you should apply for the Children’s Books North Network Mentor Scheme! Open to anyone interested in working in publishing based in the North of England, or Scotland. No prior experience needed. Link in bio to apply 📚🩷

In this Northern Highlight, we interview Jo Empson, an author based on the Isle of Sky. Jo tells us a bit about The Sea Below My Toes, a book she illustrated and Charlotte Guillain wrote. Link in bio 📚

In this Northern Highlight, we interview Catherine Jacob, an author based in York. Catherine tells us a bit about what she’s working on currently, and how she’s been touring schools round Yorkshire with Betsy Buglove and the Lucky Ladybirds. Link in bio 📚 @catherinejacob.bsky.social

For our April CBNN Reads, CBNN’s Network Champion & Social Media Lead Georgina Bulga has chosen The Great Bear by Annie Booker. Published by Two Hoots. Link in bio 📚 @twohootsbooks.bsky.social

In this Northern Highlight, we interview Ira Bova, an author based in Frodsham and originally from Ukraine. Ira tells us a bit about her books Extraordinary: To Dream and Irwin’s Huge Help. Link in bio 📚

Join Corrinne Averiss for a storytime and craft morning at Simply Books to celebrate the Children's Books North Network Prize! 🎟️ Book your child’s space following the link in our bio. luma.com/CorrinneAver... @newwritingnorth.bsky.social

In this Northern Highlight, we interview Helen Rutter, an author based in the Peak District’s Hope Valley. Helen tells us a bit about her latest book Advice From a Twelve Year Old Nobody, which came out on the 12th of Feb. Link in bio 📚 @harpercollins.bsky.social

Submissions for the inaugural Children’s Books North Network Prize are now closed! ✨ A huge thank you to everyone who joined our Prize Roadshow events and submitted an entry. Our judging panel can’t wait to see all the different ways you’ve brought Fabulous Frank to life.

We’re delighted to share that after a year as a dedicated member of the committee, our former Cuppas Lead Bethany Sparks has stepped into a new role as a CBNN Co-Lead alongside Emma and Bea 🎉

🎉 New members announcement 🎉 We are delighted to welcome four new members to CBNN. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to: Kate Herbert, Holly Bushnell, Tom Jordan, and Sara Semple. We are so excited to have you all on board 📚

Only a few days to go until submissions close for the CBNN Prize! The deadline is now Tuesday 10th March Noon, we are so excited to see all of your amazing work 🥳📚 @newwritingnorth.bsky.social @artscouncilengland.bsky.social

For our March CBNN Reads, CBNN’s Prize Champion Katie Siddall has chosen Coorie Doon by Jackie Kay and illustrated by Jill Calder. Published by Walker Books. Link in bio for full review 📚 @walkerbooksuk.bsky.social

New Book Alert! 🦜My Pirate Colouring Book, out today with Igloo Books. My first time illustrating a full colouring book and hope I get to do more ⚓ #kidlitart #newbook

We’ve given you a bit more time to enter the CBNN Prize! Due to popular demand, we’ve decided to extend our call for entries deadline to Tuesday 10th March noon! 📚✨ @newwritingnorth.bsky.social @artscouncilengland.bsky.social

The Children’s Books North Network turns 6! A huge thank you to all of our members and supporters, and to the original co-founders, Emma, Liz and Tilda. We are excited for the next 6 years and to see CBNN grow even bigger, with lots of amazing things to come 🎂🥳💝

It’s now only 1 week to go until the CBNN Prize deadline closes! We’re so excited to see all your submissions, follow the link in our bio for full information on how to enter 🥳📚

In this Northern Highlight, we interview Gaynor Andrews, an author based in Moray in the north east of Scotland. Gaynor tells us a bit about her rhyming picture book, Pandora and the Story Forge, which comes out in paperback in May! Link in bio 📚 @gaynorandrews.bsky.social

This week we interview Brooke, our newest CBNN Committee Member! Brooke is a bookseller at House of Books and Friends in Manchester, with a passion for getting children excited about reading. Link in bio for full interview 📚

Our Power of Reading Impact Report 2025 is now live! Discover how evidence-informed, book-based teaching boosts attainment, narrows gaps and helps children see themselves as readers and writers. Read more: https://clpe.org.uk/research/power-reading-impact-report-2025

It’s now only two weeks to go until the CBNN Prize deadline closes! We’re so excited to see all your submissions, follow the link in our bio for full information on how to enter 🥳📚 @newwritingnorth.bsky.social @artscouncilengland.bsky.social